Britney Spears to become Vegas showgirl?

Journalist

Before and after: Britney Spears in her youth and later her controversial MTV pash with Madonna, followed by a downward spiral leading to rehab (inset).

Britney Spears is reportedly about to reinvent herself as a Las Vegas showgirl with plans for a mammoth residency at a hotel on the city's famous strip.

Spears, who has been teasing fans for a month with a countdown on her website to a "new era", has promised to reveal all on Tuesday morning (US time) on the ABC network's Good Morning America.

The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that Spears will announce a gruelling series of 60 90-minute shows at Planet Hollywood.

The image Spears posted on Instagram

The 31-year-old will be following in the recent footsteps of older acts including Santana, Rod Stewart and Celine Dion, all of whom have courted a more mature audience with Vegas residencies.

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The move is widely seen as the latest attempt by the mother-of-two to return to her former glory days when her songs and albums routinely sold in the tens of millions and she was the undisputed queen of pop. Since 2007 she has been steadily rebuilding her career after a very public meltdown when she had treatment for drug problems and shaved her head.

Spears is reportedly working out with celebrity trainer Tony Martinez to get into top shape for the Nevada shows.

"This is hardcore stuff. Britney knew she needed to step up her game. She loves to sweat," Martinez told E! Online.

A picture Spears posted on Instagram of herself in a bikini, along with the revelation she was "in the desert", sparked speculation she might already be in Las Vegas.

The news comes as Spears' management was forced to release the new single, Work Bitch, 24 hours early after it was leaked online.

"Incredibly upset that a low quality recording of #WORKBxxCH leaked last night, ruining the fans first experience with the song," tweeted Spears' manager Adam Leber.

"Disheartening that one bad apple had to spoil our release for the entire fan community but nonetheless, we hope you love #WORKBxxCH," he added.

Last month, Lady Gaga was also forced to release her new single, Applause, ahead of schedule after the song leaked online.

Reportedly furious at the security breach that she dubbed a "pop music emergency", Gaga called on her fans to report sites hosting the leaked version.

"Due to hackers and abundance of low/high quality leaks … we issue this pop music emergency … monster spread the word," she tweeted.

Reaction to Spears' new single appears to be broadly positive, with many fans taking to Twitter and other social media in support.

7 comments so far

She looks great but is hamstrung by an almost complete lack of musical talent.

She's managed an awesome career off of the back of a few very well produced singles that she is interchangeable on.

Maybe she will be able to dance. But she'll never be able to sing or offer anything musically worthwhile.

Commenter

Julian

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 1:53PM

She's had dozens of gold and platinum records all over the world. Her vocals are limited in range but good enough to win numerous awards also. She can certainly dance and has written and co-written much of what she has recorded.

Commenter

The Real Mac

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 3:31PM

How can someone be interchangeable with themselves? Wouldn't that category include every singer?

I just love how Julian you have become the arbiter of what is musically "worthwhile". Were there particular criteria you had to fulfill to get that role? Or was it by birthright?

Commenter

janeygotagun

Location

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 3:54PM

@Julian - Britney may not be one of the strongest singers today but she definitely has one of the most unique, recognisable voices the world has ever seen.

With that raspy, breathy quality nobody else can sing britney songs and make them sound good.

The fact that she has been undeniably successful since she hit the scene in 1999 (13 years now) and every single one of her albums has reached number 1 shows that she is something special; but I suppose haters are always going to hate.

Commenter

Adrian

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 17, 2013, 9:08AM

"This is hardcore stuff....she loves to sweat." So which flea pit bar is she preforming?

Commenter

micko

Location

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 4:08PM

Britney ' invents' herself- she certainly needs a healthier and realistic self -image. But how sad that she is limited to releasing a single titled 'work bitch'! fire your management britney and get some grown ups on board ie. people who want you to grow as an artist and not treat you as a product to disrespect.

Commenter

Mama said

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 8:54PM

One step closer to the "pron" career to she so obviously aspires to.Excellent.